Heriot-Watt University is set to showcase its expertise at Expo 2020 Dubai. Working closely with business partners, the University has a 200-year history of developing research and innovation that contributes to and drives forward solutions to global challenges.

Throughout the six-month event, the UK Pavilion’s theme is ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’ where Heriot-Watt will showcase work from its global innovation and research institutes, focusing on how artificial intelligence, robotics, net zero, energy and health are shaping tomorrow.

Hosting a day-long Future Skills Conference on 8th December 2021, the University is providing an inspirational line up of its world-leading academics and industry experts. It will explore purposeful education, industries and jobs of the future, alongside the skills, lifelong learning and entrepreneurial mindsets needed from the global workforce to grow future economies.

Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal (enterprise and business) at Heriot-Watt University, said: “For 170 years, World Expos have provided a platform from which to showcase the greatest innovations that have shaped or will change the world we live in. That’s why Heriot-Watt University is proud to be a supporting partner of the UK at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.”

She further added, “Taking part in Expo 2020 demonstrates our continued commitment to sharing our expertise and working with global business partners to create impactful and relevant lifelong learning opportunities to develop ‘future made’ graduates. For Heriot-Watt to be one of four UK partners at this global gathering is a golden opportunity to showcase our expertise. We’re excited to be launching major new initiatives during Expo 2020, supporting education opportunities for both traditional and non-traditional learners. We are committed to the delivery of high-quality education in the UAE regions, from our established campus and our state-of-the-art facility at Dubai Knowledge Park. Through these unique facilities for students and research delivery, we will continue to make an outstanding impact for society.”

Simon Penney, Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and HM Consul General to Dubai said: “It is great to have Heriot-Watt University as a partner of the UK at Expo 2020 Dubai having had such success here in the UAE for over 15 years. With over 40% of international schools in the world using the British curriculum, UK education expertise is in high demand. We look forward to demonstrating the best of the UK alongside Heriot-Watt at the UK Pavilion.”

World expos such as Expo 2020 are an opportunity for Heriot-Watt to promote its research, innovation, enterprise and thought leadership ideas, demonstrating how the University is using research to address and solve some of the biggest challenges facing the world today.

Its team will promote excellence in learning and teaching, sharing best practice and building on the institution’s comprehensive and global education pathways. It is also an opportunity for the University to develop links and establish partnerships with businesses and government organisations.

Finally, the project offers a unique opportunity to build effective connections between students and industry and helps to ensure that projects of this type have real impact, both inside and outside the curriculum.